Police break up 2 underage drinking parties in Pike County involving more than 60 kids

Wednesday

Jun 25, 2014 at 8:54 AMJun 25, 2014 at 9:38 AM

State police report that they broke up two underage drinking parties in Pike County that involved a total of more than 60 youths.

Police said they were called to a “large loud” underage party at 133 Bloss Road in Greene Township following the Wallenpaupack High School prom.

Police said 32 students, ranging in age from 15 to 18, were cited with underage drinking or disorderly conduct.

The homeowner, Kathy Ferber, 51, and her older son, Theodore Ferber, 21, both of Canadensis, were the only adults present and planned the after-prom party, police said.

The Ferbers have been charged with corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person after one of the juveniles fell in a wooded area of her backyard and suffered a severe cut to his leg, police said.

Parents will sometimes condone drinking or think they are providing a safe place by taking away car keys, according to Lt. Chris Paris of state police at Blooming Grove.

“They think they can control them. But when is the last time you had 30 people at your house and had control of everyone and knew where they were all the time?” Paris said.

The guests could text someone, get into a car and leave drunk, leading to a possible tragedy.

“People don't contemplate all those very dangerous eventualities,” Paris said.

In the other incident, police responded June 8 to a large underage party in the Masthope Development in Lackawaxen Township.

It was determined that 31 students were from the Broomall and Newtown Square areas of Pennsylvania.

They rented a house at 100 Summit Court for the weekend following the Marple Newtown High School prom, police said. All 31 were cited with underage drinking and/or disorderly conduct.

No adults were present, police said.

“Any time we come across minors who have had alcohol, we will issue a citation,” Paris said.